With two decades of high school coaching experience in Texas, I will share the Best Development Baseball Drills for Hitting that I used to turn a low-performing team into a District Champions and a state ranking as high as #10.

Develop the key skills needed to hit a baseball effectively. Master timing, hand-eye coordination, swing mechanics, and mental focus to elevate your game.

I will give you:

• A technique-driven circuit giving you 314 swings

• 4 phases of swinging

• Download a multi-use hitting circuit

I will also answer the following questions:

• How can I improve my hitting in baseball?

• What are hitting drills?

• What are good baseball drills?

• What are the 4 steps to hitting a baseball?

All of this will be shared with CONSISTENT, ACTIONABLE, REPEATABLE, AND EXACT COACHING POINTS that you can use today. 

Let's get into the batter's box and get better!

Baseball Drills for Hitting: How can I improve?

There are 3 ways to improve hitting a baseball:

1. Get the right equipment so you can develop

2. Learn the proper sequence and phases of hitting

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

For the right equipment to develop a player's swing you will need a bucket of baseballs, a bat, sock nets, batting tee, and it helps if you have a partner to help you pick up baseballs or take turns.. You can also step it up and create a small developmental batting tunnel in your backyard.

If you do not have a partner, don't worry: you can still get your reps and work by yourself.

The proper sequence of hitting has a lot to do with your development as a hitter. There are multiple words and phrases used to teach hitting and they all have validity. The main thing is to make sure you follow the sequence, work muscle memory, focus on eye-hand coordination, and finally practice like crazy.

How to swing a baseball bat?

3 Rs of Hitting

I have used the "3 R's" verbiage and it works for me.

R - Rhythm is when the batter is in the box and is in rhythm with the pitcher. The hitter is confident and looking for a specific pitch. When the pitcher starts his wind up the hitter will quiet the body and when the pitcher shows his hip pocket the batter will "load" by showing the pitcher his front back pocket as well with the majority of the weight now on the back foot.

R - Reach is when the pitcher strides the hitter will stride as well. This stride is a short 6" stride with the hitter landing on his front foot's big toe. By doing this, the hitter will keep the weight back. The most important part of this segment is only the lower body moves. The upper body is quiet with the hands back.

R - Rip is when the hitter swings with the knob of the bat going towards the ball.

The best manner in which to teach this is by having all the players in lines simulating their swing on the coach's command of "Rhythm - Load - Reach - Rip."

The players learn how their body works and can control the bat.  

It does no good to have a player take batting practice when he/she can not even control the bat.  Doing so will create bad habits.

Get a video with more details on hitting from University of Tennessee head baseball coach Rod Delmonico.

Here is a book by Coach Delmonico.

Lastly, the only to improve hitting a baseball is to practice, practice, and then practice again.

What are hitting drills?

Now it's time to practice!

To simplify the teaching process you can practice baseball drills for hitting using 5 main specific training thoughts.

1. Wrist Strengthening Drills

2. Pre-Hit Drills

3. Tee Drills

4. Soft Toss Drills

5. Short Toss Drills

Of course, you can add a 6th drill - hitting on the field.

By following this sequence of drills you will get 314 swings!

Here are the drills in more detail:

Baseball Drills for Hitting: Wrist Strengthening

One way to increase bat speed is with strong wrists. These wrist strengthening drills will be done in one set of ten for a total of 50 swings to get started.

• Windshield wipers - the player will hold a normal-sized baseball bat with one close to the top of the bat grip. Keeping his elbow tucked into his ribcage the player will move the bat left and right using the wrist only. This movement will make the bat look like a windshield wiper. Do both wrists 10 times each.

• Fishing casts - the player is in the same position as above but now acts as if casting a fishing rod. This time the bat barrel will move up and down. Do both wrists 10 times each.

• One-hand roll - the player will now simulate a swing using only one hand. The player will choke up as needed for bat control but will roll his wrist through the swing controlling the bat. Do the front hand followed by the backhand 10 times each.

• Two-hand roll - the player will now simulate a swing using both hands focusing on rolling the wrist and controlling the bat barrel. Do this 10 times.

• Figure 8 - the player will hold the bat with both hands and extend the bat away from him at belly button height. The player will now move the bat in a figure-8 motion. Do 5 motions one way and then complete 5 motions the other.

You have now completed your wrist strengthening drills. 

{50 Swings in this drill / 50 Overall}

Baseball Drills for Hitting: Pre Hit Drills

The purpose of Pre-Hit Drills is to warm up the entire body using hitting mechanics.

• Trunk Rotations - the player will place a bat on his waist touching his back. He will place one hand on the barrel and one hand on the grip. With the bat behind his back, he will be able to "feel" his body work to get in sync as he works through his swing. The player will swing as normal but the bat will never leave the small of his bat. You can work this drill in the player's natural hitting side, but I like to also work the batter swinging the other way as well. Loosens up the hips and increases flexibility. Do it 10 times.

• Load Drill - the player will simulate being in the box and swinging the bat in a slow and steady process. When the bat gets into the hitting zone, the player's partner will be there with his buttocks as a target. The hitter will gently touch the buttocks and continue his swing with force. The player who is the "load" will slowly walk as the hitter presses on him. This is a type of isometric strengthening activity. Do it 10 times. 

• Hat Drill and Swing - the player will use his cap as a home plate and simulate his swing. As he works simulating the ball through the hitting zone he will focus on his chin going from the front shoulder to the back shoulder keeping his head down. Hence, when the player swings, he should be able to see the cap on the ground. Do it 10 times.

• Fence Drill - to work on a short, compact swing the player will place the knob of the bat on his belly with the end of the barrel touching a chain link fence. Once the player is measured up he will take his swings. The goal is to not touch the fence. If the player swings and touches the fence this tells him the swing is too long. Do it 10 times.

You have now completed the body warm-up drills for hitting. 

{40 Swings in this drill / 90 Overall}

Baseball Drills for Hitting: Tee Drills

For this set of baseball drills for hitting you will need to have a strong and stable batting tee, a bat, a sock net, as well as a bucket of a minimum of 16 baseballs.

• Bottom Hand - The player will hit off the tee using his bottom hand only. Players can use a regular-sized bat (choke up to the top of the grip) or use a small bat specific for this drill. Complete one bucket which is 16 balls.

• Rock, Rock Swing - Player will get in the hitting stance. The player will "rock" forward slightly, "rock" back to load, and then "swing" with a follow-through. Complete 16 reps.

• Knee, Knee Swing - The player will get in a hitting stance. The player will put slight pressure on the front knee, then the back knee, and then swing. Similar to the "Rock, Rock Swing" except the moves are more subtle and less noticeable. Do this 16 times.

• Load and Swing - The player will be in a hitting stance. The player will "load" and then "swing." This is probably the most used tee-hitting drill. 16 hits.

You have now completed your swing technique with a non-moving ball.

{64 Swings / 154 Overall}

Baseball Drills for Hitting: Soft Toss 

For this drill you will need a sock net, bat, a bucket of 16 baseballs and you will need a partner to toss the ball to you or a machine like this one.

• Top Hand Catch Drill - Player will be in a stance with his top hand pinky finger locked with the index finger of his bottom hand (like holding a bat). The player will swing his hands at the ball being tossed but instead of hitting the ball, the player will catch the ball with his top hand.

• Bottom Hand Drill Swing - Player swings at a tossed ball using only his bottom hand. Batter can use a regular bat (choked up to the top of the grip) or use a specialized bat like this. The top hand is grasping the t-shirt near the armpit of the front arm. Complete 16 reps.

• Two Hand Swing and Hold the Follow Through - player will now swing at a tossed ball and hold the follow through. The reason for the hold is to make sure the batter keeps his balance and completes the swing with his head down. Complete 16 reps.

• Drop Ball - Here we are working on an off-speed pitch. To complete this drill the group will add a stack of cinder bricks and tennis balls. One brick will be horizontal as a base and the second brick will be vertical (looks like an upside down "T"). The tennis ball will be dropped simulating a pitch. The hitter will load, and reach on the drop of the ball but keep the hands and upper body quiet. Once the ball bounces up off the cinder block the hitter will swing and hit the ball before it drops again. Complete 16 reps.

• Continuous Swings - This is one of my favorite drills. The partner will feed 3 continuous baseballs. The hitter will swing to contact on the first ball and immediately reload to swing at the second ball to contact and reload once more to swing at the third ball and follow through. Working on quick hands, body movement, and balance. Complete 16 reps.

You now have completed baseball drills for hitting while focusing on a moving ball.

{80 swings / 234 Total}

Baseball Drills for Hitting: Short Toss

This drill will require a short batting tunnel (45' minimum), a pitching screen, bucket of baseballs, batting helmet and bat. The pitcher can work on throwing over-hand as well as underhand. The goal is to work on hitting mechanics.

• Opposite Field - The pitcher will throw or toss all pitches to the outside of homeplate. The hitter needs to let the ball travel deep into the zone. When the ball is hit. The ball should go to the opposite field netting.

• Pull Field - The pitcher will throw or toss all pitches to the inside of homeplate. The hitter needs to meet the ball out in front of the plate. When the ball is hit. The ball should go to the side hitting on (pulling the ball).

• Sequence Hitting - The pitcher will throw or toss a sequence of locations in order. The sequence will be inside (pull), middle (down the middle), and outside (opposite field). This sequence can change as needed. The hitter can know the order or the order of locations can be up to the pitcher. Complete 3 sets of 16.

You have now completed baseball drills for hitting with a focus on with ball coming at you.

{80 swings / 314 Overall}

What are good baseball drills for hitting?

All of the above are great drills to perfect your swing.

A practice focus can be working on a routine or working with one player and a weakness. The choice is up to the coach and what the team needs.

You can get more hitting drills from Stack.

What are the 4 steps to hitting a baseball?

There are multiple ways to label hitting. But for this coach, the 4 steps to hitting a baseball are:

• Stride

• Drive

• Accelerate

• Follow Through

You can see images and a more detailed explanation in this medical journal.

Conclusion

You now have 19+ years of experience summarized for you to use today.

You now have a hitting circuit to give 314 swings in 30 minutes or less.

You have an article in your hands giving you 4 phases of swinging the bat.

You have a FREE Download of a multi-use hitting circuit